There exist different organs in the human body. These organs conduct several roles. Different organs play different roles in the human body. A human can function properly when all the organs are in good condition and are in good health.
Whether diet or lifestyle, one must stay healthy to avoid diseases, disorders, and any illness. However, there are several disorders associated with the human heart if it doesn’t function properly or if it is not in a good state.
Key Takeaways
- Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular, rapid heart rate, whereas congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition where the heart fails to pump blood efficiently.
- Afib can increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, and heart failure, while CHF results from coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and heart valve issues.
- Treatment for Afib involves medication, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgery, while CHF management includes medication, lifestyle adjustments, and possible surgical intervention.
AFIB vs CHF
AFib is a type of irregular heartbeat that can cause symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness, as well as complications such as stroke, blood clots, and heart failure. CHF is a condition caused by coronary artery disease, hypertension, and valve disease.
It is caused due to several reasons, but mostly it is caused due to high blood pressure and problems associated with the heart valves. It can be treated and cured by medication. There are other treatment options as well.
There are several diagnosis options by which one can understand if they have CHF or not. However, ECG and/ or a chest X-ray are some of the common diagnosis options.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | AFIB | CHF |
|---|---|---|
| Full forms | Atrial fibrillation | Congestive heart failure |
| Meaning/ Definition | The disorder in which the atria present in the human heart lacks rhythm or beats irregularly is known as atrial fibrillation or AFIB. | The disorder in which the pumping of the heart is not done well and due to which the fluids in the body are amassed is known as congestive heart failure or CHF. |
| Risk factors | People aged 60 years and above are more likely to have this disorder, as people with blood pressure issues, people with coronary artery disease, etc. | People who have a family history of congestive heart failure, people who are diabetic, people who have coronary artery disease, etc. |
| What happens | The rhythm of the atria is irregular. | The fluids get collected due to the improper pumping of the heart. |
| Symptoms | Shortening of breath, difficulty in doing activities like exercising, feeling light in the head, etc. | Swelling is observed in the ankles, fatigue, and difficulty in breathing. |
What is AFIB?
AFIB, or Atrial fibrillation, is a heart disorder that, when it occurs, causes irregularities in the rhythm of the atrial. It is one of the most severe heart disorders, and it is most likely to be diagnosed in people who are sixty years or above.
Other than that, it can also be caused due to hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid hormone from the gland present in the neck is produced in huge amount and thereby increase the body’s metabolism.
If a person is feeling difficulty in breathing, light in the head, fatigued, face difficulty in activities like exercising, feels weakness in the body, or faints, then they must visit a doctor as these are some of the symptoms that are observed in a human body whenever he or she has atrial fibrillation.
However, atrial fibrillation can be treated and cured. One of the most effective treatments doctors follow or prescribe is AV node ablation.
What is CHF?
CHF, or congestive heart failure, is a disorder related to the human heart which occurs when the heart doesn’t pump properly, resulting in the collection of fluids in the body.
People with blood pressure issues, people with a family history of congestive heart failure, people with problems associated with heart valves, and people with coronary heart disease or cardiomyopathy are more likely to get diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
If a person’s left ventricle of the heart is affected, then he or she can feel extremely weak and tired, can face difficulty in breathing, and the cardio output is also reduced.
A patient can be cured by introducing some changes in his or her diet and lifestyle and by following medications. Other than that, the treatment options may vary depending on the severity of the disorder.
Main Differences Between AFIB and CHF
- One can get congestive heart failure if one has a family history of it. On the other hand, one can not get atrial fibrillation if one has a family history of it.
- Treatments to cure atrial fibrillation include AV node ablation. On the other hand, the treatments to cure congestive heart failure include a heart transplant if the severity is more, medications, and changes in dietary schedule and lifestyle in general.
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199205073261906
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM197112232852601
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
